Increasing load carrying capacity - options? - Diesel Forum

la350 · 03-06-2005, 10:34 AM

Hi guys,
I just bought another Ford to add to the stable, not a diesel this time however. Its a 1990 F250 4x4, 240,000 miles, new auto tranny, 5.8L that I bought to use on my commercial fishing site in Alaska. The sole use of the truck will be to haul fish (up to 4500lbs at a time) a few miles across the beach and then a few more on pavement to the cannery. I'm going to go with either 285's or 33x12.5's to get the floatation needed to cross the sand. My debate is on the extras to add before I send the truck from CA to AK.

I figure I'll need to add a body lift of 2-3" to clear the tires when loaded. I'm also wondering how much the stock suspension has sagged in 240,000 miles. Should I go with an add a leaf package to both restore orginal "sag" and add a litte capacity or go with the add on air bags between the leaf springs and frame? Any thoughts on this application? The truck will get only 500-700 miles a year as it will be stored the other 11 months.

Thanks,

Lance

ozhoo · 03-06-2005, 10:50 AM

Air bags will help you handle the load, and you'll also wanna get the highest load rated tires you can get. With 33's your choices will be limited.

After that, going only a few miles, hauling what your hauling, in your neck of the woods... I'd load her up and drive it like I stole it.

O

BREAD1 · 03-06-2005, 11:05 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Air bags will help you handle the load, and you'll also wanna get the highest load rated tires you can get. With 33's your choices will be limited.

After that, going only a few miles, hauling what your hauling, in your neck of the woods... I'd load her up and drive it like I stole it.

O

[/ QUOTE ]

O - what about a ten ply Interco tire? Any issues with these, does the ply have anything to do with the load range? I know swamper SSR's come with 10 ply rating in a 33.10.5/12.5/14.5 sizes.

chumstone · 03-06-2005, 12:19 PM

Will air bags fit with the larger tires? If you get different springs keep us posted as I am looking for new leaf springs for my 86 F-350 to haul my camper.

smotu · 03-06-2005, 06:23 PM

Take a look at these - www.timbren.com - available from www.truckspring.com or www.awdirect.com. Probably a little less than air bags, but no bags to blow, leak, or replace, put them in and forget about them. No clearance issues with larger tires. You can put them on both ends of the vehicle. That is what I have had in the last couple of vehicles and like the heck out of them.

MonkeyWrench · 03-07-2005, 11:24 AM

My vote would be for the timbrens. I also love them, and you don't have to worry about air leaking. Air bags should not be a clearance concern though, because they mount in the same area. Add-a-leafs will stiffen the ride even when empty, which may be undesirable, or may be of no concern.

The easiest installation would definitely be timbrens. I did all four corners of my truck in about an hour.

lheebie · 03-07-2005, 04:12 PM

I'm having a pair of them put on very soon. Better than air bags that leak and you have to work with them all the time. Fill them up when towing and let them down when not. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/vomit.gif[/img]

larry_minn · 03-07-2005, 10:48 PM

What was said. I would consider adding duals. Who cares if they stick out beyond fenders if only used off road? Why not get a dump wagon and tractor for such a short haul?

beretzs · 03-08-2005, 04:03 PM

I would look at the Interco SSR Super Swampers, I have the 37's on my truck and they are a 10ply tire and rated at 3900lbs with 65psi of air, they have the sizes you need and would float if you aired them to a correct psi. I would also go with the Timbrens, alot less to worry about and with you being gone for 11 months and having to worry about the salt corroding the lines, you would be alot more worry free, and I am sure you are not worried about how the truck rides and as long as you have a ton of fish (no pun intended) it really shouldn't matter. Scotty